Pharmaceuticals

Dapagliflozin has been added to the pharmaceutical benefit scheme to help patients with chronic kidney disease, but there are calls for better prevention education in remote NT communities. Eleni Roussos reports.

Juanita Vernon was losing the ability to perform basic tasks until she started taking a drug that slowed down the progress of her spinal muscular atrophy. But the drug came with a hefty price tag.

Moderna has sued Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for patent infringement in the development of the first COVID-19 vaccine approved in the United States, alleging they copied technology that Moderna developed years before the pandemic.

Some Australians are waiting longer than ever to see their GP, and one state has come up with a possible solution that would allow pharmacists to take over some of the doctors' prescription work. But a trial that was due to begin in June has now been delayed, with no clear timeline for when it will begin.

Doctors and pharmacists are warning there could be serious consequences for patients if the shortage of hundreds of medications isn't addressed soon.

The only pharmacy in a remote Tasmanian tourism town is struggling to stay open as it grapples with tragedy and a worker shortage.

With Australians dying from COVID-19 every day, some experts are pointing to New Zealand's approach to antivirals as an example of how to improve access to the potentially life-saving medications. 

COVID-19 antiviral medications are now more widely available, but do enough eligible people know where and how to get them?

Drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries proposes a hefty settlement that could resolve thousands of lawsuits over its alleged role in the US opioid epidemic.

Sally Parkes lives with chronic migraines and arthritis, and as cost-of-living rises bite, she has struggled to stay on top of the ongoing cost of medications. 

The South Australian government is calling on the federal government to ease eligibility rules for antiviral medication for COVID-19. Antivirals cost private buyers between $500 to $1,000 per course of medication.

The vaccine that protects people against most cervical cancers elicits an immune response so potent that just a single dose will do, according to the World Health Organization.

In a cellular and molecular neurodegeneration laboratory in Brisbane, researchers are quietly making breakthroughs on the most difficult aspect of dementia research.

An experimental drug cleared tumours from a dozen people with a specific type of rectal cancer, but experts say there's loads more work to be done.

Confusion and lack of awareness around who qualifies for COVID antivirals — and who doesn't — may be why some eligible patients aren't getting the medications.

Uncertainty and miscommunication have affected the rollout of free flu vaccinations for South Australians, with the state government now confirming pharmacies can charge for them if they wish.

Dysgeusia is described as a bitter, metallic or sour taste in the mouth and some people report it as a side effect of COVID-19 medications. But what exactly is it, and what's going on in the body when it happens? Sarah Hellewell explains.

Australia's coronavirus pandemic reveals a little-known addiction to illegally imported herbal Kamini balls, allegedly sold in some Asian grocery stores, with COVID-19 lockdowns resulting in supply shortages and price increases.

Experts believe that antibiotic resistance will become a global problem in the long term, with a new study finding high rates of resistance in samples of salmon and beef.

The cost of multiple medications can be financially crippling for many people. Sophie Scott reports.

Rick Parsons had two heart attacks and has type 2 diabetes, so taking regular medications are often all that stands between living and dying.

An HIV drug that only needs to be administered six times a year, as opposed to every day, is added to the PBS — a potential game changer for regional and rural Australians living with the virus.

Budget speeches are prone to flourishes and embellishment, with treasurers attempting to present their government's record in the best light. With figures flying thick and fast, RMIT ABC Fact Check sorts fact from spin.

This may be surprising, but medicine shortages have been an ongoing issue in Australia. The pandemic only made it more visible, writes Maryam Ziaee.

Medication can play an important role in severe anxiety. These are the most common types prescribed in Australia and how they help balance the brain.